When you want to learn a new language, there's no better way than to immerse yourself in that language's culture. If you have to use your new language for your everyday needs, for example in shops and restaurants, in dealing with paperwork, and for socialising, then you'll pick up language skills much more quickly than you would from casual use.

Spanish is spoken by more that 400 million people around the globe, which makes it the second-most common language in the world. So naturally, if you are considering learning a new language, then Spanish is a great choice as it will allow you to communicate with lots of people. It's well-known that immersing yourself in a culture is the fastest way to learn - but where is the best place to do this? Below we'll look at some suggestions for the best country in which to study Spanish.

In the intensly competitive and narrow job market, prospective job seekers are increasingly discovering that a Bachelor’s degree is not enough, as more and more job profiles require you to have a Master’s (or similar postgraduate diploma/certificate). Whereas once postgraduate qualifications were reserved for the rare elite, today they are increasingly becoming the norm. With the often remarked upon generalised and broad character of many undergraduate degrees, it is not uncommon for employers to attach great importance to postgraduate qualifications.

One big challenge for students who are studying internationally is dealing with language issues. If the native language of the country in which you're studying is not your own native language, it can be difficult to make the most of your studies. However, it can also be a fun opportunity to learn a new language and to pick up new language skills. Today we're offering some tips on dealing with language issues when studying abroad.

Even if you are not interested in earning a full graduate degree in Spain, there are many alternatives for spending time there as a student. Spain is one of the most popular destination countries for students spending a summer, semester or full year abroad. At the Master’s level, you have a number of different options available to you, which we will outline in this article.

Why move to a new field for postgraduate study? Perhaps a topic caught your eye during your undergraduate studies and you always wanted to pursue it further. Perhaps you're confident in your understanding of the essential facts of your field and feel that it's time for a change. Perhaps you want to broaden your skills and gain some variety to your studies. In any case, postgraduate study allows you to delve deeper into topics and to learn more independent research skills. If you're thinking of making a change, read on for advice on how to set yourself up in a new discipline for your postgraduate study.

If you are interested in earning a Master’s degree outside of your home country, Spain has a wide array of programs open to international students that make it a great place for graduate education. With 76 accredited universities spread across the country, you can choose a program and institution by discipline, location, reputation or other factors based on your individual preferences. Spain is home to a number of very well renowned institutions, particularly in fields such as economics, business and cultural studies.

The decision to undertake graduate study is an important one, and once you have decided to take this step, the next question is – which one!? There are so many graduate study options around the world that deciding where and what to study can be an immense task. Consider why you are interested in a graduate program, and research your options. After you’ve done some initial research, you can narrow it down to the programs and schools that interest you. If you can, attend a university fair to get a feel for a university or program.

In recent years, more and more universities are deliberately seeking out international students and encouraging cross-cultural exchange, whether through direct exchange programs, entire degrees for or including international students, or wider networks such as the Erasmus program in Europe. The benefits of working and studying abroad are numerous – they can lead to improved language skills, salary, a global network of contacts and increased cultural sensitivity.

Although the range of tuition fees is quite broad in Spain (depending on the program, discipline and university, you may be asked to pay anywhere between a few hundred and many thousands of euros), nearly every Master’s program requires some level of payment. Thus, it is a good idea to carefully look through the admissions pages of each program you’re interested in and be fully aware of tuition requirements before you apply.

The value of overseas study is immeasurable, and a study abroad semester or degree enhances the educational experience. As such, we have recently been doing a blog post series highlighting reasons to study in Italy, Turkey, China, Spain and – now our next in line -  the United Kingdom! The UK is home to many of the world’s leading universities, and is a top international student destination for those who would like to improve their English and take advantage of the challenging and creative courses on offer around the UK.

Funding your studies is always an important consideration and can be a big hurdle for students. There are a number of funding types available, such as grants, scholarships, and student or private loans. They can come from a number of different sources, including government, university, or private organizations. But what do these different types of funding mean, and how do they work?

We’ve already explored Spain, China and Turkey – next stop in our series exploring top destinations for students is Italy!

Earlier this month we wrote about the top 5 reasons to study in the Iberian Peninsula; the high quality of education, the Spanish language, the culture, lifestyle, landscape and entertainment are factors that draw people towards study in Spain. Next up, Turkey is the second country we want to talk about in our series exploring top destinations for students from around the world.

Spain is the first country we will be highlighting in a new series exploring top destinations for students from around the world. Spain is one of the most popular countries in Europe for students interested in either short-term or longer exchange programs, as well as for those looking to earn a full degree in a foreign country.

Instead of relaxing by the pool, engaging in night long barbecues or taking long awaited beach vacations, do you find yourself smoldering in the summer heat at your local library, or at your very own disheveled desk, mustering what little willpower you have left to write your thesis? As a current graduate student at the American University in Cairo I share your woes, and perhaps sleep depriving fears, but believe me when I say there is light, and the promise of a blissful graduation, at the end of that slightly terrifying thesis tunnel. Whether or not you’ve established a sizeable outline or built a praiseworthy bibliography, you will need to keep writing, and not succumb to the dastardly clutches of summertime procrastination, to ultimately reach your deadline. The key to thesis writing during this scorching summer is to stay motivated, even if it takes pitchers of iced coffee and copious amount of frozen yogurt to get you through! Take a look at my top ten tips on how to stay motivated while writing your thesis this sunny season.

If you're interested in attending a summer school this year, now is the time to start planning. Once you've selected a school to attend and been accepted, here are some of the ways that you can make the most out of your summer school experience.

After finishing high school many students think of applying for university and getting at least a Bachelor’s degree. After 3 to 5 years of studying some choose to take their first degree and join the job market, while others decide to continue in university to complete a Masters Degree or even a PhD through additional academic and/or applied research. If you are thinking about taking this final step and doing your PhD, but you are still not sure whether it is right for you, check out the links below to see what you can expect from a PhD program.

A PhD was something I always dreamed of doing. On the one hand, it was a natural continuation of my, it now seems, life-long learning curve after my Master’s degree. But, more importantly, it was also a faraway dream on the horizon that seemed worth pursuing just for its own sake. I probably knew my love of research should last me the entire doctoral spell but no one will ever be able to fully explain to you what it is like to undertake a PhD until you have finally let yourself fall into its subtle embrace.